AZ's Altidore sets U.S. record for overseas goals; Castillo is injured.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, March 5, 2013) -- United States striker Jozy Altidore, who scored twice last week in a mid-week Cup match, set a record Sunday for goals by an American playing abroad, but his strike was not enough for AZ Alkmaar in a 2-1 setback to RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Meanwhile in Mexico, Altidore's U.S. teammate, defender Edgar Castillo was lost for the two American CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers this month when he suffered a facial fracture in three places for Club Tijuana in its 1-0 Liga MX loss to Atlas.

Castillo, who played 90 minutes despite the injury, will be out for about a month. U.S. midfielder Joe Corona the final 15 minutes for Tijuana, while American defender Greg Garza, who possibly will replace Castillo in the Tijuana lineup, did not dress for Tijuana.

Another U.S. team member, striker Herculez Gomez, was named "Man of the Match" after scoring two goals and assisting another for Santos Laguna in its 3-1 decision over Jaguares de Chiapas.

Altidore now has 24 goals, 17 in the Eredivisie, surpassing U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey, who found net 23 times for Fulham in the 2011-12 English Premier League season. His success led to his transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, a more successful Premier League team.

Altidore brought the match level in the 69th minute when he ran onto a ball in in the penalty area and chipped goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet from about 12 yards.

Before this weekend U.S. keeper Tim Howard had started 210 consecutive matches for Everton of the EPL. That streak came to an end when he was a game-time scratch because of a back strain suffered in last Tuesday's 3-1 home victory over Oldham Athletic of the third-tier League One in a fifth-round FA Cup replay.

Howard sat out Everton's 3-1 victory over visiting Reading in league play.

Last night, U.S. keeper Brad Guzan put in a heroic performance, making seven saves for relegation-challenged Aston Villa, which fell 1-0 to Manchester City at Villa Park.

Twice in the first half, Guzan stopped shots from Carlos Tevez, but deep in first-half injury time, he could not prevent a third shot from Tevez from scoring.

American defender Eric Lichaj dressed, but did not play for Villa.
American midfielder Brek Shea played the final 23 minutes for Stoke City in its 1-0 loss to West Ham United.

U.S. defender Geoff Cameron dressed, but did not play for Stoke, while American midfielder Sebastian Lletget did not dress West Ham.

American Brad Friedel was the backup keeper for Tottenham, which came back to defeat Arsenal 2-1.

Dempsey is still nursing a sore leg and did not dress for Tottenham.

In the second-division English League Championship, U.S. defender Jonathan Spector went 90 minutes for Birmingham City, a 5-2 loser to Hull City.

Still not completely match-fit after a long injury layoff, U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden dressed, but did not play for Bolton Wanderers, edging Barnsley 3-2.

American defender Tim Ream did not dress for Bolton.

Irish-American forward Conor Doyle dressed, but did not play for Derby County, while American defender Zak Whitbread dressed, but did not play for Leceister City.

In League One, American defender Frank Simek went the distance for Carlisle United in its 1-0 loss to Notts County.

American striker Mike Grella played the final 10 minutes for Scunthorpe United in its 1-0 loss to Brentford.

In the German Bundesliga, German-American midfielder Danny Williams and defender Fabian Johnson went 90 minutes for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, which made a tremendous effort, but still fell 1-0 to league-leading Bayern Munich.

German-American Jermaine Jones went 90 minutes and received one of his frequent yellow card for FC Schalke 04?s in its 4-1 triumph over VfL Wolfsburg.